Ignition system.



J. W. JEPSON.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9.191s.

- 1 ,277,078 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

[NI/EN TOR ATTORNEYS STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JOHN W. JEPSON, OF DEPEW, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR- T0 GOULD COUPLER COMPANY,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed July 9, 1915.

To wllwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn IV. JErsoN, a citizen. of the United States,and a resident of Depew, county of Erie, and State of New York, haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Ignition Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ignition systems and more particularly toignition systems for the ignition of gas engines. It is especiallyapplicable to the ignition of gas engines driving automobiles.

The general object of my invention is to provide such a system which isnot only simple in construction and operation but which is moreefficient. To this end I provide a system having a battery andgenerating armature for feeding the ignition circuit and charging thebattery and so arranged that as the speed of the engine and the armaturedriven thereby is increased on starting, the voltage produced by thearmature is added to that of the battery to cause the ignition circuitto more quickly build up so that a more efficient ignition is obtainedat such time. As a further feature I arrange the parts so that currentthrough the interrupter or induction coil feeding the sparking devicesor both is alternated in direction, thereby preventing the building upof the platinum points, contacts or electrodes by the sparks passingthereacross.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are dia-' grains illustrating oneembodiment of my invention Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating amodification; and

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents the secondary high tension winding ofan induction coil having one terminal 2 connected to the ground, theother terminal 3 being adapted to be connected to sparking devices tosupply or feed the same 1n a well known Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Serial No. 38,848.

manner. The primary i of the induction coil s connected in series in anignition circuit 111 series with a storage battery 5, armature winding6, interrupter 7 and commutator 8 provided witlrcontact portions 9 and10. A cam 11 operates the interrupter 7 in a: well knowninanner, and acondenser 12 is placed in shunt about the interrupter. A lamp or workcircuit 10 is shown conncctcd across the battery to be supplied therebywhen the generating armature is not running at sufficient speed. Theignition circuit may be traced as follows: from the positive side of thebattery 5, through the primary i of the induction coil, brush 13-,contact 9, armature-or magneto winding 6, brush contact 16, interrupter7, brush lei, contact 10, brush 15 and to ground to which the negativeside of the battery is connected. The armature windings 6 are preferablyof the magneto type although carried by an armature structure 17provided with another set of .n'mature windings connected to acommutator 18 having brushes 19 and 20-, the latter being connected tothe ground and the former to the positive side of the battery through aseries field coil 21 opposing the shunt fields 22 which set up thenecessary field for the armature. In this way the armature windingsconnected to the commutator will act to supply current to charge thebattery and supply the work circuit 40 when running at suificient speed.Suitable automatic and hand switches may be provided for disconnectingthe battery from the commutator 18 when the battery has been charged andfor opening the ignition circuit when not in use. Instead of opening thecharging circuit when the battery has been charged, the charging currentmay be automatically reduced or eliminated in any suitable or well knownmanner, leaving the commutator still connected in circuit.

hen the engine for which the ignition system is designed is beingstarted the bat-- tery supplies the necessary current through theignition circuit above described sufficiently to energize the primary4-. of the induction coil to produce the required sparks at the sparkingdevices. Under these conditions the magneto armature winding (5 producespractically no voltage. As the engine speeds up and so drives thearmature 17 an electromotive force is generated in the wind ings (5which, by reason of the commutator S, is always in the same direction asthat of the battery 5 in the ignition circuit above described. F ig. 2illustrates the circuit connections with the electromotive forceproduced in the windings 6 in the opposite direction from what it wasunder the conditions of Fig. 1. The ignition circuit in F ig. 2 may betraced as follows: from the positive side of the battery 5, throughprimary it. brush 13, contact 10, brush 1%, interrupter 7, brush contact16, armature winding 6, contact to ground and the negative side of thebattery. Thus the commutator 8 alternately connects the battery andmagneto armature windings 6 whereby the voltage of one is in the samedirection as the voltage of the other in the ignition circuit wherebythe voltage of the ignition circuit increases with the speed of themagneto. That is, the comn'iutator S reverses periodically theconnections between the battery and armature windings 6 so that thevoltage generated by the latter and the battery will be in the samedirection and cause the ignition circuit to quickly build up. This isimportant because as the speed of the engine increases with theconsequent lessening of the interval of time between sparks a lesseramount of time is given for energizing the induction coil, but with myarrangement the full energization of the induction coil. is obtainedbecause as the speed incr es the windings 6 add an increasingelectromotive force to that furnished by the battery to build up andenergize the ignition circuit and induction coil.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the induction coil is connected on thebattery side of the commutator 8 so that the primary lalways builds upwith current in the same direction. The interrupter 7, however, isconnected on the magneto armature winding side of the commutator 8 sothat the currentthrough the interrupter will alternate at each buildingup of the ignition circuit, thereby preventing the platinum points orcontacts of the interrupter from building up by the carryin of particlesfrom one to the other always in the same direction, as is the case whenthe current passes through such an interrupter always in the samedirection.

The system illustrated in Figs. 3 and t the same as that of Figs. 1 and2 except that the induction coil is connected on the magneto armaturewinding side of the commutator 8 instead of on the battery side thereof,so that the current in the primary winding t of the induction coilbuilds up the coil in alternate directions. The ignition circuit in Fig.3 may be traced as follows: from the positive side of the battery 5,through the brush 13, contact 10, brush 1 1-, interrupter 7, primary l,brush contact 16, armature windings 6, contact 9, and brush 15 to groundto the negative side of the battery. Vihen the magneto windings 6 buildup in the opposite direction the current in windings and interrupter lis in the opposite direction, the circuit being traced as follows: fromthe positive side of the battery through brush 13, contact 9, windings6, brush contact 16, primary 4, interrupter 7, brush 1%. contact 10, andbrush 15 to ground to the negative side of the battery.

In each case the electromotive force produced by the windings 6 is addedto that of the battery, causing the ignition circuit and induction coilto build up more quickly as the speed increases and as time given forbuilding up is decreased. If desired, the interrupter 7 may be placed onthe battery side of the commutator 8, but as above pointed out, this isnot so advantageous.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in. Fig. 1except that the interrupter 7 and commutator S are combined in oneapparatus. As there shown, the interrupter is carried upon a disk 26rotated in synchronism with the engine and armature 17. Each time thedisk 26 makes a halt revolution one of the relatively stationary rollers2'7 engages one arm 28 of the interrupter, causing the interruptercontacts to be separated. a condenser 29 bcing connected in shunt aboutthe interrupter contacts. The disk 26 carries two contacts 30 and 31adapted to contact with stationary brushes and 33 alternately as theparts rotate. The brush 35 is connected to ground, the contact 31 isconnected to one of the interrupter contacts 34. while the otherinterrupter contact 35 is connected to one terminal of the magnetoarn'mture windings (5, the other terminal oi which is connected to thecontact 30. The ignition circuit may be traced as follows: from thepositive side of the battery through the primary 4t, brush contact 30,windings (S, interrupter contacts 35, 3 t, contact and brush to groundand the negative side of the battery. Upon reversal of electromotiveforce in windings 6, the contacts 30 and 31 will. be in reverseposition, so that the current building up the induction coil will passfrom the battery and primary 4, through brush contact 31, interruptercontacts 34, 35 (in the opposite direction from what it was before)windings S (in the opposite direction also) contact 30 and brush toground and the negative side of the battery. The combined interrupterand commutator of Fig. may be substituted in the systems of any of theother figures, and many other changes and modificatrons may be" made"without departing.

from the spirit and scope or my invention in its broader aspects;

Having fully and clearly described my inventions what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1; A system or the class described having an ignition circuitcontaining. a battery, magneto armature and interrupter inseries withone another, a commutator acting. toso efiect wnnec'tion of the batteryand mag neto. armature that the voltage or one is maintained in the samedirection as the volt age of the other in said circuit whereby thevoltage of the igi-i-tion circuit increases with the speed of themagneto, a work circuit, and armature windings driven synchronously withthe magneto armature and connected' tocharge the battery and supply thework circuit when running at su fiicient speed.

2. A systemof the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, magneto armature and interrupter in said circuit, a commutatoracting toreverse the connections between the battery and: magnetoarmature so that the voltageof each will always be in the same directionto build up the ignition circuit, and armature windings connectedincircuit withthe battery to chargethe battery when running atsuflicien't speed g 3. A' systemof the class described having agenerating armature, a battery and an ignition circuit in operativerelation, and a commutator reversing the connections be. tween thebattery and armature so that the voltage generated by the armature andbattery will be in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit,said generating armature having windings connected to charge the batterywhen running at sufficient speed.

4. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery and generating armature in seriestherein, a commutator reversingthe connections between the battery and armature so' that the voltagegenerated by the armature and battery will be in the same direction tobuild up the ignition circuit as the speed of the armature increases,said generating armature having windings connected to' charge thebattery when running atsufiicient speed, and a work circuit connectedacross the battery to be supplied by the said last-mentioned armaturewindings and battery.

5. A system" of the class described having ignition circuit operatingwith a battery, generating armature and induction coi'l'in seriestherein and in series with one another, the inductioncoil having asecondary circuit adapted to feed sparking devices, said generatingarmature having windings connected charge the battery when running atsufficient speed, and a work circuit connected across the battery to besupplied by the said last-mentioned arn'ia ture windings and battery.-

'6. A system or the class described having a generating armature, abattery and an ignition circuit inseries, an induction coil in series insaid: circuit, the secondary of which is adapted to supply sparkingdevices, and a comnmtator reversing the connections between the batteryand armature so that the voltage generated by the armature and batterywill be in the same direction tO'bIllIl up the ignition circuit andmeans on said armature for feeding a-- work circuit.

7. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generat i-ng armature a-n'd interrupter in series therein, acommutator reversing the connections between the battery and armature sothat the voltage generated by the armature and battery will be llif thesame directionto build upthe ignition circuit, and an induction coil insaid circuit the secondary of which is adapted to supply sparkingdevices.

8. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit, abattery, generating armature, and interrupt-er all in series, and acommutator reversing the connections between the battery on the one haudand the armature a 'nd interrupter onthe other hand so that the voltagegenerated by the arma= ture and battery will be in the same direction tobuild up the ignition circuit but the current through the interrupterwill alternate in direction, and means automatically charging. saidbattery.

9. A system of-the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, genera-ting armature, commutator and interrupter all operatingin series with one another, a secondary circuit in inductive relation tosaid ignition circuit, and means revolving with the generating armatureand adapted to charge the battery.

10. A system of the class described having. an ignition circuit, abattery, generating armature, commutator and interrupter all in serieswith one another, anda secondary circuit in inductive relation to saidignition circuit, said commutator reversing the connections between thebattery on the one hand and the armature and interrupter on the otherhand so that the voltage generated by the armatureand battery will be inthe same direction to build upthe' ignition circuit but the currentthrough the interrupter will alternate in direction, and a winding onsaid armature for charging the battery.

11. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generating armature, interrupter and induction coil inoperativerelation thereto, and a commutator reversing the connections between thebattery on one hand and the armature, inter rupter and induction coil onthe other hand,

' duction coil will alternate in direction.

12. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with a.battery, generating armature and induction coil in ope ative relationthereto, and a commutator reversing the connections between the batteryon one hand and the armature and induction coil on the other hand,whereby the voltage generated by the armature and battery will al waysbe in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit but thecurrent through the induction coil will alternate in direction.

18. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generating armature, interrupter and induction coil in seriestherein and in series with one another, and a commutator reversing theconnections between the battery on one hand and the armature,interrupter and induction coil on the other hand, whereby the voltagegenerated by the armature and battery will always be in the samedirection to build up the ignition circuit but the current through theinterrupter and induction coil will alternate in direction.

14. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generating armature and induction coil in series therein and inseries with one another, the induction coil having a secondary circuitadapted to feed sparking devices, and a commutator reversing theconnections between the battery on one hand and the armature andinduction coil on the other hand, whereby the voltage generated by thearmature and battery will always be in the same direction to build upthe ignition circuit but the current through the induction coil willalternate in direction.

15. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, gene 'ating armature and induction coil in operative relationthereto, the induction coil having a secondary circuit adapted to feedsparking devices, and a commutator reversing the connections between thebattery on one hand and the armature and induction coil on the otherhand, whereby the voltage generated by the armature and battery willalways be in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit but thecurrent through the induction coil will alternate in direction.

16. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generating armature and induction coil in series therein andoperating in series with one another, the induction coil having asecondary circuit adapted to feed sparking devices.

17. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, generating armature, interrupter and induction coil in seriestherein and operating in series with one another, the induction coilhaving a secondary circuit adapted to feed sparking devices.

18. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit, abattery. generating armature and induction coil all in series with oneanother, and a commutator reversing the connections between the batteryand armature so that the voltage generated by the armature and batterywill be in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit. theinduction coil having a secondary circuit adapted to feed sparkingdevices, and the armature having a winding thereon for feeding a workcircuit.

19. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with almttery adapted to feed the same and an interrupter in operativerelation thereto, a generating armature having two windings, onecooperating with the battery to teed the ignition circuit and oneconnected to charge the battery. and a secondary circuit in inductivelation to said ignition circuit.

20. A system of the class described having an 'ignilitm circuit; with abattery adapted to feed the same and an interrupter in operativerelation theretoya generating armature having two windings. onecooptaating with the battery to teed the ignition circuit and oneconnected to c large the battery, and an induction coil in the ignitioncircuit having a secondary adapted to feed. sparking devices.

- 21. Av system 01 the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery adapted to feed the same and an interrluiter in operativerelation thereto, a generating armature having two windings, oneconnected to feed the ignition circuit and one connected to charge thebattery, and a commutator reversing the connections between the batteryand armature so that the voltage generated by the armature and lmttcrywill be in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit.

22. At svstem of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery adapted to feed the same and an interrrupter in operativerelation thereto, a generating armature having two windings, oneconnect:- ed to feed the ignition circuit and one con nected to chargethe battery, the battery and first mentioned armature winding being inseries with one another in said circuit, and a conmmtator reversing theconnections between said first me t oned armature winding and thebattery, whereby the voltage gener ated by said first mentioned armaturewinding and battery will be in the same direction to build up theignition circuit.

- 23. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery adapted tofeed the same and an interrupter in operative relationthereto, a generating armature having two windings, one connected tofeed the ignition circuit, and one connected to charge the battery, aninduction coil for feed ing sparking devices, the induction coil,battery and said first mentioned armature winding being in series withone another in said circuit, and a con'nnutator reversing theconnections between the battery on one hand and the first winding andinduction coil on the other hand, whereby the voltage generated by saidfirst mentioned armature winding and battery will be in the samedirection to build up the ignition circuit but the current through theinduction coil will alternate in direction.

Qet. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery adapted to feed the same and an interrupter in operativerelation thereto, a generating armature having two windings, oneconnected to feed the ignition circuit and one connected to charge thebattery, an interrupter for the ignition circuit, the interrupter,battery and said first mentioned armature winding being in series withone another in said circuit, and a commutator reversing the connectionsbetween the battery on one hand and the first mentioned armature windingand interrupter on the other hand, whereby the voltage generated b saidfirst mentioned armature winding and battery will be in the samedirection to build up the ignition circuit but the current through theinterrupter will alternate in direction.

25. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, a generating armature and an induction coil with its primary inseries therein, and a commutator reversing the connections between thebattery and armature so that the voltage generated by the armature andbattery will be in the same direction to build up the ignition circuit,the primary of the induction coil being on the battery side of thecommutator so that it always builds up in the same direction.

26. A system of the class described having an ignition circuit with abattery, a generating armature and an induction coil with its primary inoperative relation to said circuit, and a commutator reversing theconnections between the battery and armature so that the voltagegenerated by the armature and battery will be in the same direction tobuild up the ignitioncircui t, the primary of the induction coil beingon the battery side of the commutator so that it always builds up in thesame direction, and connections whereby the secondary of the inductioncoil is adapted to supply sparking devices.

mentioned armature by one winding, an induction coil the secondary ofwhich is adapted to supply sparking devices, said second armaturewinding and the primaryof the induction coi being connected in circuitin series with the storage battery, an interrupter in series in saidcircuit, and a commutator acting to so connect the battery and saidsecond armature winding that the voltage applied to said circuit by thesecond armature winding will always be in the same direction as that ofthe battery.

28. In a system of the class described a storage battery, generatingmeans comprising a magneto armature winding and an armature windingconnected to charge the battery, an ignition circuit having the batteryand said magneto armature winding in series therein, a coil in inductiverelation to said circuit for supplying sparking devices, and aninterrupter and commutator in said circuit, said commutator acting to soconnect the battery and magneto armature winding that the voltage of oneis in the same direction as the voltage of the other in said circuit.

29. In a system of the class described a storage battery, generatingmeans comprising a. magneto armature winding and an armature windingconnected to charge the battery, an ignition circuit having the batteryand said magneto armature winding in series therein, an induction coilhaving its primary in series in said circuit and its secondary adaptedto supply sparking devices, and an interrupter and commutator in saidcircuit, said commutator acting to so connect the battery and magnetoarmature winding that the voltage of one is in the same direction as thevoltage of the other in said circuit.

30, In a system of the class described a storage battery, generatingmeans comprising a magneto armature winding, anignition circuit havingthe battery and said magneto armature winding in series therein, aninduction coil having its primary in series in said circuit and itssecondary adapted to supply sparking devices, and an interrupter andcommutator in said circuit, said commutator acting to so connect thebattery and magneto armature winding that the voltage of one is in thesame direction as the voltage of the other in said circuit.

31. In a system of the class described a storage battery, generatingmeans comprising a magneto armature Winding and an armature windingconnected to charge the battery, a Work circuit connected to be suppliedby the battery and said second armature winding, an ignition circuithaving the battery and said magneto armature Winding the same directionas the voltage of the in series therein, an induction coil having otherin said circuit. 10 its primary in series in said circuit and its Intestimony whereof, I have signed my secondary adapted to supply sparkingdename to this specification.

vices, and an interrupter and commutator JOHN W. JEPSON. in saidcircuit, said commutator acting to \Vitnesses:

so connect the battery and magneto arma- P. V. ENGLISH,

ture winding that the voltage of one is in A. R. CLIFFORD.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner 0! Iatents. Washington, D. G."

